
Key takeaways
- Your child’s annual IEP goals should address the skills that need support due to learning and thinking differences.
- Effective IEP goals are strengths-based and SMART: specific, measurable, attainable, results-oriented, and time-bound.
- You can track your child’s progress toward IEP goals throughout the year to stay informed.
How to write great IEP goals?
There are 3 important questions to consider before writing an IEP goal:
- What does this student need? This is the most important question. ...
- How will you teach that skill? Will you be able to use task cards? ...
- How will you collect the data?
How many goals do you typically write for an IEP?
Writing IEP Goals
- Reading. In 2000, the report of experts on the National Reading Panel explained the research in reading. ...
- Math. After children master math operations skills (adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing), they learn how to use reasoning to solve word problems.
- Writing. Achievement in written language requires many skills. ...
How to write a basic IEP goal?
- In order to make a great and appropriate goal, make sure to get a measurable baseline first.
- From there you will be able to plug in the number of prompts
- Type of prompts (verbal, gestural…etc. ...
- % of accuracy
- Number of trials/opportunities
- Time frame (e.g. ...
- and how it will be measured (data collection, observation, work samples…etc).
How to write IEP goals and objectives?
Written Expression IEP Goals
- When given a writing assignment, [student] will independently create a keyword outline. ...
- [Name] will use the keyword outline process to create a written composition that contains [number of] paragraphs of at least [number of] sentences each, an introduction, conclusion. ...
- The [student] will independently develop his ideas for assigned essays. ...
Why is a goal measurable?
What is smart goal?
What should IEP goals be?
Why is it important to write IEP goals?
What is measurable goal?
How often should a teacher collect data?
What is an IEP?
See 4 more
About this website

What should a good IEP goal include?
IEP goals include three components that must be stated in measurable terms: (a) direction of behavior (increase, decrease, maintain, etc.) (b) area of need (i.e., reading, writing, social skills, transition, communication, etc.) (c) level of attainment (i.e., to age level, without assistance, etc.)
What are the 3 most important parts of an IEP?
The three parts of an IEP goal: current level of performance, specific and measurable goal, and service delivery all need to support each other.
What makes a strong IEP?
Ensure IEP success An IEP is a legal document written to ensure success, as well as an equitable learning experience. It needs to be reflective of the student's strengths and need areas, with goals that set high expectations and allow for appropriate accommodations and modifications.
What does a good IEP look like?
For kids to get the most out of an IEP, the goals shouldn't be vague or general. Instead, they should be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Results-oriented, and Time-bound.
What should you not say at an IEP?
7 Phrases you Never Want to Hear at an IEP Meeting.“Let's just wait and see…” No, no, no. ... “We don't do that here.” You've done your research and asked other parents. ... “We've never seen him do that at school.” Just one of the many examples of either gaslighting or invalidating parent concerns.More items...
What are the two main goals for a student with an IEP?
The IEP should: Meet the child's academic, development, and functional needs that result from the disability; Enable the child to be involved in and progress in the general curriculum; Meet each of the child's other educational needs that result from the child's disability.
Which component of IEP is most important?
The PLAAFP Section It is sometimes referred to as “Present Levels.” This may be the most important part of the IEP because it tells you how the school assesses your child's skills. The PLAAFP will focus on your child's needs to help direct his learning.
How do you write IEP strengths?
Examples of strengths when it comes to academic performance are:learns new material quickly.makes connections.knowledgeable about different topics and facts.superior visual memory.advanced listening comprehension.understands math easily.excellent math skills.good problem solving skills.
What are the 7 special factors that must be considered in the development of any IEP?
The special factors are:Behavior (Keep scrolling)Limited English proficiency.Blindness or visual impairment.Communication needs/Deafness.Assistive technology.
What are 3 things you should do when writing an IEP for a student?
Tips for Writing an IEPAn accurate and comprehensive definition of your child's needs. That should come from his evaluation, and your observations. ... A clear understanding of his present level of performance. ... To specify services and goals that address your child's disabilities.
What should be in an IEP for ADHD?
An IEP will detail accommodations and modifications that will help a child with ADHD thrive in a classroom environment. Learn more about the characteristics of ADHD here. Accommodations include changes that help a child learn, for example, allowing breaks during lessons to help ease hyperactivity symptoms.
What are the 5 SMART goals in education?
The acronym SMART identifies the areas of focus in goal-setting. It stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Results-oriented or relevant, and Time-bound. Other terms have been associated with these letters, but the Ohio Department of Education uses these.
Which component of IEP is most important?
The PLAAFP Section It is sometimes referred to as “Present Levels.” This may be the most important part of the IEP because it tells you how the school assesses your child's skills. The PLAAFP will focus on your child's needs to help direct his learning.
What are the major parts of an IEP?
According to the IDEA, an IEP must contain:1 – The Student's Current Educational Status. ... 2 – Measurable Annual Goals. ... 3- A Description of How the Child's Progress on Annual Goals Will Be Measured. ... 4 – A Statement of the Special Education and Related Services and Supplementary Aids and Services.More items...•
What are 3 types of IEP?
Let's take a look at each type of IEP below.Presentation. This changes how the information is presented to the student. ... Response. This alters how the student completes assignments and testing. ... Setting. Some students struggle to learn in a traditional classroom setting. ... Timing and Scheduling.
What are the key elements of a meaningful IEP?
Essential Elements of An IEPStrengths and weaknesses. ... Correct diagnosis. ... Current performance indicators. ... Valid interventions. ... Realistic, measurable goals. ... Short-term objectives. ... Social considerations.
Sample IEP Goals, IEP Examples, What is IEP
IEP Goals Examples. If you still are not sure What an IEP is or what IEP Goals are, listed below are Examples of IEP Goals and Objectives. These Sample IEP Objectives are just a fraction of the ever growing number of IEP benchmarks available in our database.
SMART IEPs (Step 2): Create Goals and Objectives
SMART IEP goals and objectives. Write down several statements about what you want your child to know and be able to do. Revise these statements into goals that are specific, measurable, use action words, are realistic, and time-limited.
What are the goals of IEP?
Better IEP goals will make for better lesson planning, better curriculum mapping, better teaching, better parent/teacher collaboration, and better progress.
What are the criteria for a standardized test?
Types of Criteria to Include: 1 # correct out of certain # of trials or opportunities 2 percentage correct 3 frequency (number correct in a specified time period – ie. 25 per minute) 4 prompts – use adult prompts as a measurable criteria
What does the first letter of an IEP mean?
The first letter of the IEP stands for individualized. The IEP goals are driven by the child’s current skills. So figure out what your student can do. Check out this post on my favorite assessments and this post on informal assessments. This is why the IEP writing process needs to get started so far ahead of those dreaded compliance dates. This can take some time. I always recommend writing the compliance dates in your yearly calendar and then two months ahead of that write in assessment dates so you can get starting on getting some assessments done.
What is the ABLLS?
The ABLLS is extremely helpful in showing what skills to target. You can also reference your state standards to view skill sequence options.
What does "unpacking the standard" mean?
Unpacking the standard means taking an in-depth look at what is included in the standard. Each standard contains so many skills – we want to look at what are all the skills included. You also want to analyze what are all of the component skills (or building blocks) needed to complete that skill.
Does mastery include prompts?
Mastery may include some prompts – that’s okay. Full independence on a task may not work for all students. But be careful of the frequent offender – “minimal” and “moderate” prompting. Does that sounds objective and measurable to you? NOPE. If you are including prompts in your measurable and objective IEP goal include exact prompt number and types of prompts. Jenny will complete the entire task of washing her hands with no more than 3 verbal or gestural prompts in under 3 minutes. Specific. Observable. Measurable. Boom.
Can you observe a student write?
You can see a student write. You can observe a student tell you something. You cannot observe value something, think something, or know something. You want the IEP goal to be something that everyone can see being accomplish and you want the it to be specific enough that teacher A and teacher B both see the same thing.
How many pages are in the IEP goals and objectives bank?
Here you go. I consolidated the printable IEP goals and objectives bank. It is over 100 pages, so if you are going to print it, be aware. You might want to send it to Kinko’s or Staples and have it bound so that you can use it as a refence.
Can I have an IEP for autism?
Remember, IEPs are needs-driven, not diagnosis driven. So, you’d develop goals based on the child’s needs. Yes, many students with IEP for autism have similar needs. I have a separate post about an Autism IEP, which explains how to build a solid, meaningful IEP if your child has autism.
Is an IEP goal specific?
However, IEP goals should be specific to the child’s needs. And, they should be developed from baselines that are listed in the IEP present levels. So, while browsing lists of IEP goals is easy, and you likely will find a goal that you like, it doesn’t mean that it’s appropriate for your child.
Do you have to write goals based on core standards?
I have heard from parents in the past who were told “Well, we have to write goals based on core standards.” No, no they don’t. IDEA is very clear that goals are based upon evaluations. It’s an exercise in futility to write a goal that a child cannot reasonably achieve in one school year.
Is finding great ideas just one step toward a solid IEP?
Finding great ideas (and there are literally thousands here) is just one step toward a solid IEP.
How to create smart goals?
You can help create SMART goals with your child's IEP team by asking the following questions: 1 Do you understand what is being taught and how? 2 Is it clear what your child will be able to do when the goals are met? 3 Are the goals based on Present Levels of Performance? 4 Do the goals address all areas of needs for your child? 5 How will data be taken? 6 How often will data be analyzed for progress?
What is a ttainable goal?
A ttainable. Goals represent a skill that is reachable for your child. Goals are based on Present Levels of Performance, not state curriculum standards.
What should goals be in a school?
S pecific. Goals should clearly describe the skill the student is learning. Goals should never be vague. If you moved to another school district, the new teacher should be able to read the goals and know exactly what is being taught.
Is the information on this page a substitute for legal advice?
Furthermore, the information on this page is not a substitute for legal advice. When it comes to matter of the law and policy, please consult an attorney or advocate on your child’s behalf.
What are the goals of an IEP?
Writing the goals can be one of the hardest parts of developing an IEP, because goals can cover so many different areas. Some goals may relate to the general education curriculum. Other goals may focus on learning developmental or functional skills, such as eating independently, sitting with classmates, or reading Braille. A third kind of goal may involve your child’s social or emotional needs. True, these don’t come under a typical academic curriculum. But if your child has social or emotional needs, goals to meet those needs should be included in the IEP. For more information on state laws governing IEP goals, see the IEP Annual Goal Development Question and Answer document (PDF).
What are the components of an annual goal?
In Texas, there are four required components of an annual goal: Timeframe (when); Behavior (what); Condition (in what manner); and Criterion (at what level). Answering these questions provides those components:
How important is it to keep track of your child's progress?
Keeping track of your child’s progress is just as important. Guidelines for how you and the school will know if your child is making enough progress to reach her goals must also be included in her IEP. These guidelines explain how your child’s progress will be measured, and when and how often you will get progress reports.
What is an annual goal in IEP?
An annual goal describes what your child can be expected to do or learn within a 12-month period. You and your team may also identify some short-term objectives to include in this section of the IEP.
What is PLAAFP in school?
The annual goals should be based on your child’s Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance (PLAAFP or “present levels”). The PLAAFP statement identifies what your child needs. The goals should be written to address those needs.
How many opportunities are there in the second nine weeks?
By the end of the second nine weeks, 4 out of 10 opportunities.
What are good evaluation criteria?
Good evaluation criteria are observable and measurable. In Ava’s case, anyone observing her would be able to count (measure) how many times she approaches a group of children and asks to play.
What are IEP goals?
Individual Education Plan (IEP) goals are annual goals included in a student’s IEP. They need to be appropriate, observable, measurable, and meaningful to the student.
Writing IEP Goals – The 7 Components of an IEP Goal
These are 7 the seven key components you should consider any time you are writing IEP goals:
How Are You Going to Get There?
A goal won’t work if there aren’t services to help your child achieve it . This makes adequate services essential. The service delivery grid is the part of the IEP that specifies what services are needed to help the student achieve a goal, where and how often the services are given, and who is providing the services. Unless the grid specifies adequate time and a properly qualified person, it is unrealistic to expect a student to make satisfactory progress toward even the most well-written goal.
What is an IEP in education?
T he Individualized Education Program (IEP)is the cornerstone of special education. The individual goals created for a student on an IEP are the way that the student makes progress toward the Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) guaranteed by special education law. An effective goal is both specific to the student and measurable by objective standards.
What are the three parts of an IEP?
This requires knowing the three essential parts of an IEP goal: the current level of performance, specific and measurable milestones, and services to support attaining the goal. The following sections describe the three questions you and your Team should be asking to create goals that are realistic and effective for your child.
What is an IEP goal?
The goal is the IEP’s road map for achievement. You need a specific, time-limited goal that can take your child from his or her current level of performance to a realistic higher level during the time period covered by the goal, which is usually a school year.
How to determine current level of performance?
The most effective way to determine the current level of performance is through testing. In reading, the Woodcock-Johnson Test or Wechsler Individual Achievement Test (WIAT) is considered a good indicator of current performance. In non-academic areas, a psychological evaluation is an effective indicator of social-emotional or behavioral performance while a test of fine or gross motor skills can indicate occupational or physical therapy performance. More general assessment methods, such as the completion of a reading skills class or participation in a sports activity, can be helpful.
Is there a relationship between the quality of the assessment and the quality of the goal?
We have found that there is a definite relationship between the quality of the assessment and the quality of the goal. The less objective the assessment of the current level of performance the more vague and ineffective the goal. In IEPs where the current level of performance is simply an anecdotal description of behavior, our experience is that the resulting goal is often so vague that there is little, if any, chance of the student achieving it.
Can a measurement be validated by multiple observers?
The measurement can be validated by multiple observers. For example, if two different observers measure the progress of a goal using the criteria described in the goal, they would independently come to the same conclusion.
Why is a goal measurable?
This goal is measurable because it specifies the desired accuracy percentage on all work samples. A goal that is attainable goal might read:
What is smart goal?
SMART IEP Goals. All IEP goals should be SMART goals, an acronym that refers to goals as specific, measurable, achievable, results-oriented, and time-bound. A SMART IEP goal will be realistic for the student to achieve and lay out how the student will accomplish it. Breaking down the components of SMART goals into their specific elements can make ...
What should IEP goals be?
IEP goals should be SMART: specific, measurable, attainable, results-oriented, and time-bound.
Why is it important to write IEP goals?
Writing IEP goals correctly is vital to a special education student's success because, unlike in general or regular education, students in special education are legally entitled to an education plan specifically tailored to their cognitive and physical ability and needs. The IEP goals lay out the roadmap for providing such an education.
What is measurable goal?
Measurable: You should be able to measure the goal using standardized tests, curriculum-based measurements or screening, work samples, or even teacher-charted data. A goal that is not measurable might read, "Joe will get better at solving math problems.".
How often should a teacher collect data?
Data collection refers to regularly assessing a student’s success on individual items in her goals, usually at least once a week. For example, the teacher and paraprofessionals might maintain a daily or weekly log that shows how accurately Penelope is solving two-digit multiplication problems on a daily or weekly basis.
What is an IEP?
An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a written plan developed for special education students. The IEP is generally updated annually by a team that often includes the special education teacher, special education administrator, general education teacher, specialists such as speech, occupational, and physical therapists, as well as a school nurse.
